Sweet and delicious, fruit is Mother Nature's candy—and there are thousands of varieties for you to enjoy. Most people tend to fall into a routine of apples, bananas and oranges, but if you're an adventurous eater, it's time to branch out. Here are some amazing types of fruit to tantalise your tastebuds.
Fruit from around the world
Even fussy eaters can be inspired to try different kinds of fruit. They're sweet and tasty, and there are so many great flavours to discover. Try a round-the-world trip with these fruits from different regions:
- Dragonfruit, grown in tropical parts of the world, is known for its distinctive, beautiful appearance. The bright pink skin hides white flesh speckled with black seeds. Its mild flavour works well in a fruit salad.
- Brazil's açaí berry is often hailed as a superfruit. You can find it dried in many supermarkets. Add it to your breakfast cereal for flavour and antioxidants.
- Rambutans, a cousin to the lychee, hail from Southeast Asia. They look rather like hairy lychee, and once you peel off their weird skin, you'll find sweet white flesh.
- Starfruit is another Southeast Asian fruit worth trying. This gets its name from its unique shape. It's often used to decorate desserts.
- The custard apple comes from Central America. Its flesh is sweet and creamy, with a melt-in-the-mouth texture.
Top tip: The vast majority of fruits can be enjoyed raw. However, there are some that must be cooked before you can eat them. These include rhubarb and quince, which are both quite disgusting when raw. Some varieties of apple should be cooked, such as Braeburn or Granny Smith.
Native British fruit to enjoy
Of course, you don't have to travel all over the world to enjoy a good fruit salad. In the summer, indulge in Britain's bounty of berries. Strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, elderberries and gooseberries all grow well in the British climate. Stone fruits like plums and damsons are at their best in the early autumn. The United Kingdom is a hotspot for apples, too. Many local varieties work well in an apple crumble-style granola.
Add flavour with seasonal fruit
Fruits taste better in season. They're also often cheaper—and it makes environmental sense to eat them in season, too. Summer is easy: that's when you'll find amazing berries and melons, while autumn is perfect for stone fruits. Winter can be difficult: this time of year is traditionally called the "hungry gap", as not many things are in season. Try citrus fruits. This lemon recipe collection is a good way to ensure you have some fruity goodness even on the coldest days.
Using fruit in savoury dishes
Fruit isn't just for snacks and desserts. Try some savoury fruit recipes in your next food box. Some fruits work particularly well with salty foods—in this creamy lemon and dill salmon, the sharp acidity of the citrus pairs perfectly with the fish. Fruit also has an affinity with pork—roast pork with apple sauce is a classic, but ham and pineapple pizza is a bit more controversial!
Of course, you probably use fruit in savoury dishes already. Don't forget that the tomato— the star of dishes like panzanella salad—is actually a fruit, and so are avocados, aubergines, cucumbers, peppers and more! Any veggie with seeds inside is technically a fruit in the botanical sense, a useful fact for your next pub quiz.
Coping with fruit allergies
Sadly, many people are allergic to fruit. There's no such thing as a general fruit allergy. Instead, some people are allergic to just one variety, while others are allergic to a few, and so on. Common fruit allergies include kiwis, apples and peaches.
The popular "berries or fruit" question may hold some answers about allergies. Some people are allergic to all berries, while others are allergic to specific types of fruit. If you've got guests coming over, don't just guess—check exactly what varieties of fruit they're allergic to.
Types of Fruit FAQs
How many different types of fruit are there?
It is said that there are around 2,000 different types of fruit, which certainly makes it easy to get your five a day! Each fruit has plenty of varieties, too. For example, there are about 40 kinds of melon.
How many types of fruit allergies are there?
There are dozens of different types of fruit allergies. Some people may only be allergic to one particular variety, such as bananas or cherries, while others are allergic to many different kinds of fruit. People with a latex allergy are often also sensitive to fruits related to the latex plant, including bananas, kiwis and tomatoes.
What are the four categories of fruits?
Scientifically, fruits are divided into four categories: simple, aggregate, multiple and accessory. This is all based on how many ovaries and other flower parts they contain. For culinary purposes, these designations don't matter—there are tasty fruits in each category.
Which fruit has 7,000 varieties?
The humble apple has around 7,500 varieties. It is one of the easiest fruits to grow, so it has been cultivated all over the world. Farmers in different countries like to develop their own unique apple cultivars.
How many colours of apples exist?
Most apples are either red, green or yellow—or a combination of these three tones. Some apples are pink or even white. The rare Black Diamond apple, which only grows in Tibet, has a very deep purple, almost black, colour.